Well another season over. Now with the new format almost bedded down, what are general thoughts about the season and the quality of Rugby overall in the CAS?
My pithy thoughts.
1) Barker was the standout, though I don't think the quality was as high this year as in the past ( and I am not taking anything against Barker when I say that). The comp needs a closer tussle at the top than what was seen this year, a one horse race (to throw in a cliche) often leads to a weaker comp.
2) Though, considering point 1, at the top level the comp was closer than of recent years past. On their day all schools were competitive and there were no real blow-outs in scores this year.
3) For some schools depth is an issue. Injuries would appear to have cruelled the chances of some schools - in particular Alos, Trinity at times and Cranbrook late in the season. Knox also seemed to have one tactic: get it to Clark and watch him go. Without him they lost quite a bit.
4) Cranbrook came last, but had a good show in the rep sides. Amusing, but good on them and hopefully they can keep up this improvement going forward.
5) Aloys depth would be a big concern for them Though their seconds came second. However against Knox they had uncontested scrums. A serious issue if 1 vs 2 in the seconds need to have uncontested scrums.
6) A bit of an issue with red and yellow cards this year. They seemed to have beeen more prevalent, though the ongoing and constant changes to laws and interpretation thereof could be a factor. Though one school was a common factor in red cards awarded to it or against it.
7) There were some good games and attractive Rugby..though with one school some of its Rugby let the game down...for playing some quite dumb rugby and being rather disorganised and confused in their play at times...much to my chagrin. (Not naming any school here and I am not bagging them, but just an observation from, perhaps, not a totally disinterested and unsympathetic watcher. But they finished in the top three and their home ground could be argued to be one of the better grounds in Sydney).
8) The season, in my opinion at least, does seem to be too short. More games pre-season and finishing it later would be nice.
9) Trinity's consistency was incredibly and brutally chaotic. Perhaps injuries there hit them hard. And they also seemd to be a bit of a one man band at times.
10) In mid-winter, rain and wind, Queen's Park is a rather fearfully unwelcome ground and quite intimidating to visiting sides.
11) Though there were occassionally good crowds, the crowds don't seem to travel as they used to...perhaps we can blame public transport, the GFC or something for that. Also I thought attendance was compulsory for some of the younger years??
12) I must be getting old, crusty and intemperate, but school kids don't need to psyche up listening to music (with the various iPods et al stuck in their ears) before the game!!